Special Section: Weekend Getaways

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Weekend Getaways

Pigeon Roost Farm

These accessible short-term adventures are only a gas tank away.

photo: Courtesy eXpLore LiCkinG County

By Brooke Preston

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Columbus monthly SEPTEMBER 2019

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Summer may be over, but that’s no reason to let your overnight bag hibernate. Autumn trips offer temperate weather, off-peak crowds and a panoply of colors, tastes and experiences. If your fall schedule keeps you from adding stamps to your passport but a staycation won’t quite cut it, hopping in the car for a weekend escape may be just the ticket.

Each of these five regional road trips are an easy drive from Central Ohio. We’ve highlighted one fall special event, other must-see area attractions and even a few recommendations on where to rest up overnight. Whether you prefer to adventure solo, with one great traveling partner or the whole family, you’ll find that breathtaking scenery and unforgettable memories are closer than you think.

1

Toast to Oktoberfest in Frankenmuth, Michigan

The main event: Plenty of towns host an Oktoberfest. (Columbus’ is in early September, in fact.) But only one outside of Munich is officially sanctioned, and that’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan—aka “Michigan’s Little Bavaria.” Thanks to Oktoberfest and other seasonal, Bavarian-themed events and attractions, this hamlet of 5,000 residents receives almost 3 million visitors annually.

And at around four hours’ drive from Columbus, it’s easy to join their ranks.

Despite the title, this year’s Oktoberfest happens Sept. 19–22 (to coincide with the opening of the main event in Munich) in Heritage Park. The festival features authentic German entertainment, food, dancing, familyfriendly activities and, of course, authentic Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest beer. So don your best dirndl or lederhosen and hop on one of the shuttles that loop between Frankenmuth hotels and the festivities.

Don’t miss: According to Christie Bierlein, marketing director for the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, the festival is far from Frankenmuth’s only claim to fame.

“Fall is a beautiful time to visit—it’s a little more quiet than in summer, but there are still lots of things to do,” she says. “We’re a very quaint and charming four-season destination.

For instance, many people come to Frankenmuth for ‘chicken and Christmas.’ ” That’s exactly what it sounds like: Frankenmuth is home to Bronner’s, which, at the size of 1.7 football fields, may not be exaggerating its claim as the “World’s Largest Christmas Store.” All that festival and holiday browsing will help you work up an appetite for one of the area’s famous, family-style chicken

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dinners at The Bavarian Inn Restaurant or Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, two of the nation’s largest independent restaurants, which together seat and stuff close to a staggering 3,000 guests.

Digest slowly as you enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, boat tour, wine and chocolate sampling or classic Bavarian shops and architecture.

Where to stay: In addition to Marriott and Holiday Inn Express properties, guests can bed down at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. If its two waterslides and three pools aren’t enough to impress the family, try Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark, which includes the Midwest’s only 30,000-squarefoot atrium with a retractable roof.

Learn more: frankenmuth.org; frankenmuthfestivals.com

2

Celebrate the harvest at the Geneva Grape Jamboree

The main event: Geneva is Ohio’s original summer resort town, now blossomed into a year-round stop brimming with events and attractions. There’s perhaps no better time to visit than Sept.

28–29 for the area’s signature event, the Geneva Grape Jamboree. Held in downtown Geneva, the fest has celebrated the area’s grape harvest in style since 1964.

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Columbus Monthly SEPTEMBER 2019

Taste freshly squeezed grape juice, sample wine and other grape products, take in the giant parades or enjoy all the classic food, concerts, pageants, crafts and rides that fall festivals have to offer. From pie eating to fire truck pulling, there’s never a dull moment.

Don’t miss: Boating, fishing, hiking and more at Geneva State Park and Lake Erie.

View the lake from above as you swoosh along the newly added, 2.5-hour Lake Erie Canopy Tours zip line course at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake. Afterward, amble to the adjacent Geneva State Park for a hike or picnic, take in a boat ride or shoreline walk along Lake Erie or unwind at the Lakehouse Inn & Spa. Where to stay: The Lodge at Genevaon-the-Lake, self-styled as Ohio’s wine country resort, stands perched on the southern shore of Lake Erie (just under three hours’ drive northeast of Columbus) as if poised for adventure at any moment. Stay in a well-appointed lodge room or enjoy an entire cottage of your own.

Learn more: grapejamboree.com; thelodgeatgeneva.com.

3

Howl at the moon at Granville’s Harvest Moon Festival

The main event: What’s better than a fall festival? A fall festival with two

parts. The Harvest Moon Festival itself happens Oct. 12 from noon–4 p.m. at Granville’s Infirmary Mound Park (just a 35-minute drive from Downtown Columbus), with all the usual and delightful trappings, like pumpkin painting, crafts, face painting and horsedrawn carriage rides. Bookending the fest is the weekendlong Harvest Moon Rendezvous, Oct. 11–13, where actors in period dress from the 1840s set up and re-enact life in a rustic camp as the area’s early settlers did, ending with a Sunday feast.

“It’s fun for the kids to see what life would have been like back then. I took my family there and had a lot of fun,” says Carol Thress, director of partner engagement at Explore Licking County. “There is even an organization that allows people to try their hand at archery; my boys really enjoyed that. It’s a very family-friendly event hosted by the Licking Park District, which does an amazing job with all things programming.

This is one of their biggest events of the year, for sure.”

Don’t miss: If Licking County is the epicenter of Central Ohio fall fun, Pigeon Roost Farm is the bull’s-eye. A rural Disneyland of pumpkin patches, this sprawling farm requires several hours to truly take in (and another several to pry your kids off the slides, hamster wheels, mazes, barrel trains and more). Take a side trip to Van Buren Acres,

photo: Courtesy Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau

Frankenmuth

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one of the area’s newer pumpkin farms, to enjoy the bucolic Midwest nectar of the gods, the apple cider slushie, as you make your way through its giant, themed corn maze. Another option: Swing by Buckeye Lake for a float or lakeside meal.

Where to stay: For campers, Thress recommends the KOA Campground at Buckeye Lake or the Lazy River at Granville. Both offer cabins, RV hookups and primitive camping spaces. “If you’re looking for something a little more unique: Buxton Inn or Granville Inn, or the award-winning bed and breakfast The Welsh Hills Inn. Their award list goes on and on; it’s an absolutely beautiful B&B we’re really proud of,” she adds, noting that families with kids looking for that hallowed amenity—an indoor pool—should head to the Courtyard by Marriott, DoubleTree or Hampton Inn. Learn more: lickingparkdistrict.com/ event/harvest-moon-festival-4; explorelc.org

4

Get Funky at Funktafest in Huntington, West Virginia

photo: Courtesy FunktaFest/huntinGton area Convention & visitors bureau

The main event: Now in its fourth year, Funktafest is described as an “all-you-can-groove music festival.” And at just 2.5 hours from Columbus by car, you’ll be groovin’ in no time.

“Our CVB has sponsored all four years of Funktafest, and our staff are big fans,” says Tyson Compton, president of the Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“It is such a cool vibe, as they showcase funk, jam, reggae and other groove-related musicians. It is definitely worth a weekend

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trip!” The event takes place at Ritter Park amphitheater on Sept. 21; kids 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Don’t miss: Visitors shouldn’t leave without sampling Huntington’s robust food and drink scene. “Some I suggest are Black Sheep Burrito and Brews, Backyard Pizza, Bahnhof, The Peddler—which offers locally brewed beer,” says Compton. “For pre- or post-event drinks, try local hot spots Summit Beer Station, Taps at Heritage and SIP Wine Bar.” Where to stay: Most of Huntington’s accommodations are of the midsize chain variety. The Delta by Marriott is newly renovated and located in downtown Huntington, just a short drive from the venue, making it an ideal choice for Funktafest revelers.

Learn more: funktafest.com; visithuntingtonwv.org

5

ALL NEW – Interactive Jam Space

Live your dream of being a rock star inside the museum by making music with real instruments. Learn as a beginner or jam with friends and turn up your visit experience to 11.

Visit rockhall.com/letsrock and plan your trip to rock out.

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Columbus Monthly SEPTEMBER 2019

Pair up at Gervasi Vineyard’s Fall Crawl

The main event: Gervasi Vineyard (about a two-hour drive from Downtown Columbus, near Canton) hosts seasonal “crawls” throughout the year, including its Fall Crawl on Oct. 27, beginning at noon. For $29, adults of drinking age can sample curated wine and beer (or nonalcoholic options for those who don’t imbibe) at several stations, each thoughtfully paired with seasonal bites whipped up by the winery’s chefs. Guests wind at their own pace through the scenic, sprawling, 55-acre estate. Each ticket also includes a Gervasi logo glass, guided winery tour and 20 percent off at the on-site boutique gift shop. If the pairings don’t fill you up, stay for dinner at one of the property’s three restaurants, or enjoy the evening at its coffee house or cocktail lounge.

Don’t miss: Sports fans will want to make a pilgrimage to the nearby Pro Football Hall of Fame, while history buffs can veer toward the First Ladies Museum and Library or the McKinley Monument and Museum.

Where to stay: Gervasi Vineyard’s director of media relations and marketing, Nichole Cardinale, recommends guests stay in one of the property’s own upscale accommodations—which has the added benefit of avoiding any drinking-and-driving concerns after a day of wine sampling. “We just opened 24 luxury suites in May called The Casa,” Cardinale adds. “This is in addition to our 24 existing villa suites and a very quaint farmhouse, which sleeps up to eight.”

Learn more: gervasivineyard.com